Blue Hills alum speaks to Randolph students about becoming a NASA astronaut

Tuesday

May 8, 2012 at 12:01 AMMay 8, 2012 at 8:18 AM

When Scott Tingle was in school and told his classroom he wanted to become an astronaut, everyone erupted in laughter.

The Randolph native and Blue Hills Regional Vocational High School graduate, wearing his blue NASA uniform, shared this information with an auditorium full of Randolph High School freshmen April 30. He told the students he did not let the laughter stop him.

Teresa A. Franco

When Scott Tingle was in school and told his classroom he wanted to become an astronaut, everyone erupted in laughter.

The Randolph native and Blue Hills Regional Vocational High School graduate, wearing his blue NASA uniform, shared this information with an auditorium full of Randolph High School freshmen April 30. He told the students he did not let the laughter stop him.

“That memory stayed with me for the rest of my life,” he said. “I turned it into something positive.”

Tingle’s presentation kicked of Randolph High School’s Career Day. The event allowed freshmen to visit with and ask questions to adults from professional fields.

It was apparent that Tingle’s words made an impact on a couple of students.

“I now know I should start now on my goals and how I’m going to get to them,” freshmen Heather Chafe said.

“I learned you have to work very hard to achieve what you want,” freshmen David Nguyen said.

Tingle, a commander in the U.S. Navy and pilot, graduated from Astronaut Candidate Training in Houston. He was one of 14 chosen from a pool of 3,500 applicants to attend the astronaut training.

Tingle took the time out of his busy schedule last week to encourage Randolph students to achieve their dreams just as he did.

While in high school, Tingle said he was in a rock band that used to play at the high school.

“This was where I used to play, right here,” he said standing on the auditorium stage. “And I want to make you guys rock stars too.”

In high school, Tingle said he realized he needed to take his classes seriously and encouraged the Randolph students to do the same.

“There’s tons of information out there and tools on how to live your life,” he said.

Tingle said reaching his goal was more about the journey of getting there. He said he has hundreds of lifelong friends from college, the military and NASA, and he’s had the opportunity to travel all over the place.

Drugs, alcohol and violence are things that will prevent those dreams from happening, Tingle told the students.